U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski pushed back on claims that the team lacked the mentality needed to beat Portugal at the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday. The team played to a 0-0 draw in Auckland and clinched a knockout berth in the process, but failed to score and finished second in Group E.
The criticism of the team’s frame of mind was led by Carli Lloyd, the retired USWNT player turned broadcaster with Fox Sports. Lloyd described the performance as “lackluster” and “not inspiring” directly after the match, adding that the team appeared to take things for granted. The two-time World Cup winner expanded on her feelings later on in the broadcast, and had an unusually strong reaction as the USWNT players signed autographs and took selfies following the game.
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